Lutheran Quarterly Annual Essay Prize

The purpose of the Lutheran Quarterly Annual Essay Prize is to nurture and reward young scholars in Lutheran history and theology for their contributions toward making the Lutheran Reformation known to the contemporary church. One prize of $5,000 will be awarded annually from 2024–2033.

Guidelines

Essay

Authors submitting essays for this Prize will contribute a standard journal-length essay, compatible with the stated goals of Lutheran Quarterly: “The aims of the New Series are unchanged: to provide a forum 1) for the discussion of Christian faith and life on the basis of the Lutheran confession; 2) for the application of the principles of the Lutheran church to the changing problems of religion and society; 3) for the fostering of world Lutheranism, and 4) for the promotion of understanding between Lutherans and other Christians.”

Criteria

The criteria for the winning essay include that it should be grounded biblically, historically, and confessionally, display vigorous writing and original scholarship, and convey significance for contemporary readers.

Standard journal-length: 6,000 to 7,000 words.
Style: Journal essay.

Selection process

The submitted essays are first entered into the normal, double-blind peer review process for possible publication. The finalists annually are those essays that are in fact published in Lutheran Quarterly over a given year, according to the normal peer review and editorial process.

The winning essay will be selected by the editorial staff of Lutheran Quarterly, chaired by the editor.

Candidates

Candidates for this prize should either be currently working on their dissertations or be newly minted PhDs, making their initial submission within five years of earning the degree.

Deadline

There is no specific deadline for submission but rather, a constant rolling process of consideration, for a decade of annual prizes.

Note: If there is no eligible essay published in a given year, that year’s prize will be postponed one year.

Objective

We hope this Essay Prize will encourage a cohort of younger scholars devoted to the history and theology of the Lutheran tradition, with the anticipation that this will strengthen both the church and the academy.

Enquiries and Submissions

All submissions and questions should be directed to Editor Paul Rorem via email: paul.rorem@ptsem.edu

For more on Lutheran Quarterly in general you may check out their website here.